Improvement in axle-boxes for car-trucks



PATENTED Nov. 15, i864.

W. LOUGHRIDGE.

AXLE BOX.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM LOUGHRIDGE,` OF VVEVERTON, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN AXLE-BXES'FOPL CAR-TRUCKS.

Speciiieatiou forming part of Letters Patent No. 45,058, dated November l5, 1864.

To all 'whom yivf-may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM LOUGIIRIDGE, ot Wever-ton, in the county ot' Vashington and State of Maryland, have invented a new and Improved Axle-Box for Gar-Trucks 5 and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled iu the art to make and use the same, rei'erencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ot' this specification, in which- Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section of my invention taken in the line x,Fig. 2; Fig. 2, a plan or top view of the saine, the top plate ot' the box being removed; Fig. 3, a side View of the bearing ot' the same; Fig. 4, an end view of the bearing; Fig. 5, a horirrental section ot' the box, taken in the line y y, Fig. 1.

.Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

The object of this invention is. to prevent the heating ot" the boxes, the delay ot' trains, to economize in the consumption ot oil for lubricating, and to greatly diminish the amount of friction which is produced by the lateral motion ot' the cars a-nd in turning curves.

The invention consists, iirst, in reducing the end of the axle-journal to a pivot or to a size much less than the portion of the journal on which the bearing rests, and thereby reduce the tendency to heat at the point where the axle comes in contact with the spring orcheck.

My invention consists, second, inthe employment or use of aspring placed in the i'ront part ofthe axle-box and at right angles with the journal, and so arranged as to receive the end-thrust ot' the axle and soften or ease the intensity ofthe blow' of the axle arising from a quick lateral motion or side swinging ot' the cars, thereby reducing the tendency of the journal to heat at its end and relieving the axle- 'rom much strain.

lil y invention consists, third, in a peculiar stating-box, constructed and arranged to prevent the admission ot' dust within the box and the escape ot' oil therefrom.

Illy invention consists, fourth, in a novel and improved manner of lubricating` the journal, whereby the latter may always be properl y supplied with oil, even when the cars are in motion.

I construct the axle-box A of the usual form externally, but free from all obstructions within, to admit of an ordinary leather packing, B, being slipped into the box to bear against its rear side, said packing being fitted on the journal.

C is a plate which bears against the packing B' within the box, and has a circular opening in it for the journal D to pass through. This plate C has at its inner side an annular projection, a, around its opening, to form a socket to receive two or more rings of packing, b b, These ringstmay be of leather or metal. I prefer the latter material, and I design to have the rings cut to admit of them expanding and contracting like the ordinary metallic packing for pistons. f

E is a plate which is providedv with an annular projection, c, to bear against the packing-rings b b, and F F are two rods which aie iitted at one end in a semi-elliptic spring, G, at the frontend of the box, the opposite ends passing through the plate E and bearing against the plate C, as shown in Fig. 2. These rods F F have each two spiral springs, d d', placed upon them, the springs d being between the spring G and a shoulder e on the rods. rlhe springs d have atendency to press the rods F against the plate U, which in turn presses against the packing B, while the springs d', wh ich are placed between the plate E and shoulders f on the rods F, have a tenddency to pressi the annular project-ion c of plate E against the packing-rings b' b and keep the same snugly in contact with the journal D, as will be fully understood by referring to Fig. 5.

The journal D is reduced at its end toa pivot-point, g, or to such a diameter as to have but a small surface in contact with the semielliptic spring G. This point g, as well as the portion ot' the spring G against which it bears, should be hardened steel, in order to prevent wear. At the inner side of the front of the axle-box A there is a lug, h, to limit the play or movement of the spring G.

H is the bearing, placed on the journal D as usual, and provided with an oil-passage, fi, having a tube, I, communica-tin g with it, which passes through the side of the box A and may extend upward within the car and communicate with an oil-reservoir therein, or a reservoir may be placed at the outer side of the car. The tube I may, if desired, be of iiexible material and provided with a stop-cock to regulate the fiow of oil into the bearing and cut it off entirely when necessary. The dischargeoritice of the oil-passage i is directly over the journal D at the center of the bottom of the bearing H.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Let-ters Patent- 1. The stuffingbox composed of the leather B, or its equivalent, annular socket; af, metallic packing b, and pressure-plate E, substantially as described.

2. The arrangement of the springs d d and rods F F with the socket a and pressurepla-te E, ali arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the pivoted axle with the semi-elliptical springs, slipped in between shoulders at the inner end ofthe axle-box.

WM. LOUGHRIDGE.

Witnesses M. M. LIVINGSTON, C. L. TOPLIFF. 

